Send Money to New Zealand and save on Fees

Find the best exchange rates and the lowest fees when you need to send an international money transfer to New Zealand.

Tourism in New Zealand has a lot to thank J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson for. In the period from August 2014 to July 2015, more than 235,000 US tourists visited New Zealand.

There are also almost 20,000 Americans of New Zealand origin, and the combination of both of these factors means there are plenty of reasons why you might need to send money to New Zealand. But regardless of whether you’re sending money to family or transferring funds to help out a cash-strapped travelling friend, there are plenty of options to choose from when you need to send an international money transfer.

Compare International Money Transfers

Rates last updated December 9th, 2016

Transfer amount

Sending from

ToSending to

Min. Transfer Amount

Transfer Speed

Services

Online Transfer Fee

Rate

Amount Received

Get the best rates when you send money each month?

Alerts for the best time and place to send money abroad and get the best price

Banks versus money transfer companies

You could ask your bank to take care of your international transfer to New Zealand – after all, they’ll be able to handle it with a minimum of fuss. But the problem with going through your bank is that you’ll receive a poor exchange rate compared to what you can find elsewhere, while the fees charged for transfers are usually quite high.

This is why you will be much better off financially if you send your money via a specialist money transfer provider. These companies are experts at moving funds across international borders as cheaply as possible, combining minimal fees with better exchange rates than you’ll ever get from your bank.

Case Study: Hamish Sends Money to New Zealand

Hamish has packed up and left his home in Wellington, New Zealand, to pursue his dreams to become an actor in LA. Although Hamish hasn’t exactly become an A-lister during his two-year stint in Hollywood he’s done alright for himself, and he wants to send his parents a gift of USD $1,000 to thank them for supporting his dreams. He decides to compare the fees and features of two well-known money transfer companies to see which one offers the most value for money.

Money transfer company 1

Money transfer company 2

Exchange rate

1 USD = 1.537 NZD

1 USD = 1.551 NZD

Transfer fee

$5

$4

Transfer method

Bank account deposit

Bank account deposit

Processing time

2 business days

1-3 business days

Amount received (in NZD)

NZD $1,537

NZD $1,551

As you can see, Hamish’s parents will receive an extra NZD $14 if he uses the second company, while Hamish can also save USD $1 in transfer fees.

How to compare transfer companies when transferring money to New Zealand

Exchange rates. The rate of exchange can vary substantially between companies, so look for the provider that offers the most attractive exchange rates on a regular basis.

Fees. A large transfer fee can turn an affordable transaction into an expensive one. Make sure to examine the fees charged by your provider and remember that high exchange rates often also come with higher fees.

Transfer methods. How can you lodge transfers: online, via a mobile app, by making a phone call, by visiting a branch?

Turnaround time. How quickly will each provider get the funds you transfer to your recipient?

Minimum amount. Does the provider impose a minimum transfer limit? If so, is this likely to restrict your transfer options?

Pickup methods. While some companies simply deposit funds straight into your recipient’s bank account, others will make the cash you send available for collection from transfer agents across New Zealand.

Customer service. Check to see when customer service is offered and how – online, email and/or over the phone.

Emergency cash transfers in New Zealand

You’ve just received an emergency call from your daughter who is holidaying in New Zealand – her wallet has been stolen and she has no money, so she needs you to send her some cash ASAP. You’ll obviously want to get onto sending a transfer straight away, but just remember that urgent transfers usually cost more than regular transactions. Check the fee and exchange rate that apply to your transfer carefully before you commit to a transaction.

As for your daughter, make sure she reports the matter to the local police and if she has travel insurance, investigate whether she can access an emergency cash allowance from her insurer.

Cash pickup locations in New Zealand / Western Union / MoneyGram branches in New Zealand

Western Union and MoneyGram both operate extensive transfer networks around the world. When you send a transfer with either company, your recipient can then collect the cash you send from one of many transfer agents across New Zealand. Just make sure that they take along photo ID and a transaction reference number when they go to pick up the funds.

Queenstown

Tips for picking up cash in New Zealand

New Zealand is a safe and friendly travel destination for US tourists, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a few simple steps to ensure your safety when picking up cash. Make sure to visit an agent in a location you know is safe, and take along a friend or travelling companion to discourage any potential thieves. If you can help it, don’t carry around large sums of cash for any length of time – deposit the money into your bank account as soon as you can.

Disclaimer - We endeavor to ensure that the information on this site is current and accurate but you should confirm any information with the product or service provider and read the information they can provide. If you are unsure you should get independent advice before you apply for any product or commit to any plan.

finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, we may receive compensation from our partners for featured placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site.

Important Information

finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, we may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.

finder.com uses small files known as cookies to help improve our site, services and products. The files were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your cookie settings in your browser. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.